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Cant remember where i said it, but anyway, IMO the best smasher is define by his contribution on the evolution towards todays power and style. In that sense, my top 3 players (in no particular order) would be Liem Swi King, Herianto Arby and Lin Dan. Their style had transformed the way a smash is perform which as a result todays smashes are a lot more efficient and powerful. Another way to explain is the fact that in their day, no other player smashed the way they smashed. And players after them have copied the way they smashed and bring the style into the future.

Chen Changjie was a good player with a powerful smash. Liem Swie King had also a great smash - however in HK 1978 Invitational, Yu Yaodong beat him by 'out-smashing' Liem. Many singles players had great smashes, but for best, I would go for Harianto Arby. He could deliver a powerful smash from anywhere in the court. Still remember the way he beat Ardy in HK Open 94(?) with his smashes from the baseline, in the third set.

Chen Changjie was a good player with a powerful smash. Liem Swie King had also a great smash - however in HK 1978 Invitational, Yu Yaodong beat him by 'out-smashing' Liem. Many singles players had great smashes, but for best, I would go for Harianto Arby. He could deliver a powerful smash from anywhere in the court. Still remember the way he beat Ardy in HK Open 94(?) with his smashes from the baseline, in the third set.

chen changjie a power smasher no doubt but he wasn't as fast as liem swee king or harianto arby in the net or front court.

i saw harianto arby lost to ardy winarata in malaysian open 93.

boy, harianto really wacked the damn slow shuttle

and had to be changed several times, every players complained.

but that match ardy was the hero, saved uncountable smashes from harianto

chen changjie a power smasher no doubt but he wasn't as fast as liem swee king or harianto arby in the net or front court.

i saw harianto arby lost to ardy winarata in malaysian open 93.

boy, harianto really wacked the damn slow shuttle

and had to be changed several times, every players complained.

but that match ardy was the hero, saved uncountable smashes from harianto

Everybody has his/her favorite best smasher...I just looked at 2004-2005 years and I would vote for Lin Dan...those 3 steps back and jump, anticipating a smash coming (compare to setting up for a smash, position yourself and smash with almighty power), and then smash from corner to corner with the power to send the bird skimming of the court...those jump smashes Lin Dan did it so effortlessly, as if floating on air. Try do it yourself and see how difficult to do that. It takes coordination, fitness and power, surprisingly Lin Dan does not get hurt and even more surprising, I seldom see him has braces, bandage up like a mummy which a lot of players, especially the women players did. Lin Dan for me, the best smasher in my book.

chen changjie a power smasher no doubt but he wasn't as fast as liem swee king or harianto arby in the net or front court.

i saw harianto arby lost to ardy winarata in malaysian open 93.

boy, harianto really wacked the damn slow shuttle

and had to be changed several times, every players complained.

but that match ardy was the hero, saved uncountable smashes from harianto

Wish you a Happy New Year (2011-Jan-01 = 1111 )

Chen Changjie was a very good player and known, as you well pointed, his powerful smash. Another great player those days, and in my opinion with better all-around skills and also possessed a great smash was Chen Tianlong. Unfortunately he lost to Prakash in the finals of HK Open'80 (?) and with it, the confidence from the Chinese coaches.

My choice for Haryanto for best smasher was mostly for his reliance for his powerful smash and the on-court speed to win matches. My memories of his matches were almost a spin net shot and smash only!

Hard to decide, but I go with Lin Dan - he played the most offensive game I've seen, and has an incredible jump smash. Not only is the power amazing, he also has awesome angles thanks to his high jump, good anticipation and quick movement. The placement is also very effective - it would've been hard for any of the other candidates to outplace LCW like he did so often (although Zhao Jianhua would have enjoyed much success with his deception). Taufik is second imop, but what really made him so good were net play and exceptional backhand skills. He didn't rely on the smash as much and was slower to get behind the shuttle.